Srinagar, July 11: Apple farmers from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand will gather in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir on July 15-16 for the First National Conference of the Apple Farmers’ Federation of India. The conference will bring together thousands of apple growers to discuss the challenges they face and to demand that their voices be heard.
The apple industry is a major economic driver in these three states, and it provides a livelihood for millions of people. However, apple growers are facing a number of challenges, including low prices, import competition, high input costs and climate change.
“Apple growers are often paid a very low price for their apples, which makes it difficult for them to make a living. Moreover, cheap apples from other countries are flooding the Indian market, which is driving down prices even further”, one of the J&K Kissan Tehreek organisers of the meeting told Ziraat Times.
Kashmir’s apple growers are also facing dauntingly high input costs.
“The cost of inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and water, is rising, which is making it more expensive for apple growers to produce their crops. Also, climate change is a major threat to the apple industry, as it is leading to more frequent and severe weather events, which is impacting the whole production cycle”, another organiser told Ziraat Times.
At the conference, apple growers will be demanding that the government take action to address these challenges. They are calling for:
A fair price for their apples: They want to be paid a fair price for their apples, which would allow them to make a living.
Protection from import competition: They want the government to impose import duties on cheap apples from other countries, which would help to protect the Indian apple market.
Support for research and development: They want the government to invest in research and development into apple cultivation, which would help them to improve their yields and quality.
Better infrastructure: They want the government to improve the infrastructure, such as roads and cold storage facilities, which would help them to transport their apples to market and store them in a safe way.
The conference is an important opportunity for apple growers to come together and demand that their voices be heard. If they are successful, these demands could have a significant impact on the apple economy in India.
The rallying cry of the conference is “Save Apple Farmers, Save Apple Economy.” The apple growers are calling for the government to take action to protect the apple industry and to ensure that apple farmers can make a living. They are also calling for the government to invest in research and development to help the apple industry become more sustainable and profitable.
“The conference is expected to be a major event, and it will be closely watched by apple growers and industry stakeholders across India. The outcome of the conference could have a significant impact on the future of the apple industry in India”, said one of the organisers.
